Background
Samuel Knox was born in 1756. He was the eldest son of Samuel Knox, a farmer descendant of the reformer, living in the County of Armagh, Ireland. His mother's name is unknown.
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A vindication of the religion of Mr. Jefferson, and a statement of his services in the cause of religious liberty. By a friend to real religion.
( The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration...)
The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration and rapidly growing technology and expanding record-keeping made possible by advances in the printing press. In its determination to preserve the century of revolution, Gale initiated a revolution of its own: digitization of epic proportions to preserve these invaluable works in the largest archive of its kind. Now for the first time these high-quality digital copies of original 18th century manuscripts are available in print, making them highly accessible to libraries, undergraduate students, and independent scholars. Rich in titles on English life and social history, this collection spans the world as it was known to eighteenth-century historians and explorers. Titles include a wealth of travel accounts and diaries, histories of nations from throughout the world, and maps and charts of a world that was still being discovered. Students of the War of American Independence will find fascinating accounts from the British side of conflict. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition identification: ++++ British Library W041431 A friend to real religion = Samuel Knox. Also issued as part of 'Jefferson's notes on the State of Virginia; with the appendixes complete. To which is subjoined, a sublime and argumentative dissertation, on Mr. Jefferson's religious principles,' printed Baltimore : printed for the editor of the American, by W. Pechin, 1800 21,3p. ; 8°
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A discourse, delivered in the 2d. Presbyterian church in the city of Baltimore, on Thursday, the 20th of August, 1812
(This reproduction was printed from a digital file created...)
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Samuel Knox
Edit ProfileEducation
Returning to Scotland, Knox entered the University of Glasgow where he distinguished himself by diligent scholarship, was awarded prizes in Greek and Latin, and received the degree of Master of Arts (1792).
Career
Though it has been asserted that he first came to America in 1795, it is apparent, from references in the Maryland Journal and Baltimore Daily Advertiser (1786 and 1787) that he was at Bladensburg, Maryland, as early as 1786.
After preparing for the ministry, and being licensed by the Presbytery of Belfast, he came to the United States, presented his credentials at Baltimore, and received a pastorate in Bladensburg (1795) which he held two years. At Frederick (1797 - 1803) and Soldiers' Delight (1804 - 09) he served as supply minister; but his clerical services were constantly hampered by political activities and quarrels.
As a teacher, Knox occupied many stations: at Bladensburg Grammar School, 1788-89; first principal of Frederick Academy, 1797-1803; and head of a private academy, merged (1808) into Baltimore College, with Knox as principal, a position which he held till 1820. From 1823 to 1827 he was principal of the Frederick Academy and then taught a private school. In 1817 the Central College (later University of Virginia) Visitors decided to offer him the professorship of languages and belles-lettres, but the plan was never consummated. His claim to distinction as an educator rests primarily upon his Essay on the Best System of Liberal Education, Adapted to the Genius of the Government of the United States (1799) which was submitted in a prize contest instituted by the American Philosophical Society; and on his essay advocating a system of education in Maryland. The United States, he said in his prize essay, needed a national system, having a "wide extent of territory, inhabited by citizens blending together almost all the various manners and customs of every country in Europe".
Nothing could better effect harmony than this "uniform system of national education, " including both arts and sciences. Theological instruction should be left to each denomination, exclusion from the national system being justified by the principle of separation of church and state. His system embraced elementary schools for both sexes, county schools or academies for pupils (boys) who had completed four years in the elementary school and had passed an examination; a college in every state, with uniform plan and charges; and, finally, a national university, which would "constitute the fountain head of science. " Uniform textbooks, supervision, professional training for teachers, equalized salaries, promotion on merit and a university press were other novel features proposed.
Achievements
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Several powerful polemical sermons and essays came from his pen. The most notable of these, "Some Prefatory Strictures on the lately avowed Religious Principles of Joseph Priestley" (1798) and "A Vindication of the Religion of Mr. Jefferson and a Statement of his Services in the Cause of Religious Liberty" (1800), suggest that politics may have influenced his religious thinking.
Works
book
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A discourse, delivered in the 2d. Presbyterian church in the city of Baltimore, on Thursday, the 20th of August, 1812
(This reproduction was printed from a digital file created...)
-
A vindication of the religion of Mr. Jefferson, and a statement of his services in the cause of religious liberty. By a friend to real religion.
( The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration...)
-
A discourse, delivered in the 2d. Presbyterian church in the city of Baltimore, on Thursday, the 20th of August, 1812
Views
Though austere and despotic as a teacher, and often embroiled with those who disagreed with him, Knox was a discerning and forceful advocate of education.
Connections
Knox married twice: first, Grace Gilmour by whom he had four daughters; second, Zeraiah McCleery of Frederick.
